India’s Sumit Nagal suffers three-set loss in first round of Paris Olympics 2024

India's hope of winning a medal in tennis singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics ended after Sumit Nagal crashed out of the competition in the first round. The Haryana player suffered a three-set loss to Frenchman Corentin Moutet on Sunday. Nagal put up a tough fight but lost 2-6, 6-2, 5-7 in a battle that lasted for two hours and 28 minutes on Court 7.

Moutet dominated the opening set but Nagal earned two break points to take the match to a decisive third set. The Indian star made an early break in the decider to put the home favourite on the back seat. At this point, Nagal maintained a 2-0 lead. But Moutet earned the break back to make it 2-2.

Later, both players battled to a 5-5 draw before Moutet earned the crucial break of the match. Nagal saved one match point but was unable to save two more as he lost the match with a backhand error. The four break points that Moutet earned proved to be the deciding factor in the context of the match.

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India pin hopes on Bopanna - Sriram Balaji duo 

Even if Nagal had defeated the Frenchman, he would have to sweat it out to advance to the next round. The 26-year-old’s second-round battle would have been against Australian World No.6 Alex de Minaur. He has to take on Tommy Paul before reaching the quarter-finals and from there on, the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Novak Djokovic.

With the latest win, Moutet took his head-to-head tally against Nagal to 3-2. He will face either Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff or Greek Petros Tsitsipas in the second round.

Meanwhile, India will be rooting for Rohan Bopanna and S Sriram Balaji to win a medal in tennis as the duo are gearing up for the doubles competition. Notably, their first-round clash is against the home side and it will not be easy for them to overcome the challenge.

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